Sotomayor Under Fire for Discrimination Case

US Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor answers questions on July 16, 2009 during the fourth day of confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

(KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)

Question of Temperament

Senators finished questioning for Sotomayor before the witnesses -- including the firefighters, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and legendary district attorney Robert Morgenthau -- began their statements.

Graham has taken several swipes at Sotomayor, asking earlier in the week if she thinks she has a "temperament problem" and decrying remark a remark she made that a "wise Latina" judge might arrive at a better conclusion than a white man in some cases.

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Sotomayor has repeatedly tried to explain the statement, which she made in several speeches earlier this decade, saying she doesn't believe any one group has a monopoly on wisdom.

Graham acknowledged today that she has worked very hard and earned the respect of many, but added that she has also "said some things that just bugged the hell out of me."

Asked once again what she would say to people offended by the "wise Latina" comment, she told Graham, "I regret that I have offended some people. I believe that my life demonstrates that that was not my intent to leave the impression that some have taken from my words."

"You know what, Judge? I agree with you. Good luck," Graham said, sounding more conciliatory than he had in past exchanges.